How should Everi Holdings balance increasing the number of games on its TournEvent slot tournament system versus maintaining system performance and reliability?

Introduction

Balancing the expansion of games on Everi Holdings' TournEvent slot tournament system with maintaining system performance and reliability is a critical product trade-off. This scenario involves weighing the benefits of increased game variety against potential risks to system stability and user experience. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining key stakeholders, metrics, and potential outcomes to provide a strategic recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on the competitive landscape, I'm thinking game variety might be a key differentiator. Could you share how our game selection compares to our main competitors?

Why it matters: Helps assess the urgency of adding new games Expected answer: We're slightly behind in game variety Impact on approach: Would prioritize game expansion if we're lagging

• Considering user behavior, I'm assuming tournament play has peak times. Can you provide insights into our system load patterns during tournaments?

Why it matters: Informs performance considerations for game additions Expected answer: High load during evenings and weekends Impact on approach: Would influence timing and rollout strategy for new games

• Looking at our technical infrastructure, I'm curious about our current system utilization. What's our average and peak system load?

Why it matters: Determines capacity for additional games without compromising performance Expected answer: 70% average, 90% peak utilization Impact on approach: Would guide the pace and scale of game additions

• Regarding our development resources, I'm wondering about our team's capacity. How many new games can we typically develop and integrate per quarter?

Why it matters: Helps set realistic expectations for game expansion Expected answer: 3-5 new games per quarter Impact on approach: Would inform the timeline and scope of our expansion strategy

• Considering our revenue model, I'm interested in understanding how new games impact our bottom line. What's the typical revenue lift we see from introducing a new game?

Why it matters: Helps quantify the business value of game expansion Expected answer: 5-10% increase per new game in the first month Impact on approach: Would influence prioritization of game development vs. performance optimization